Adjustable grading attachment



ZZZ/Ma BY I w g mi V A V N \\IIIIIIIIIIIII- G. C. FRANTZ ADJUSTABLE GRADING ATTACHMENT Filed Dec. 24, 1926 I l W s F F GEE Mm w 0 m 6 v1 w Feb. 5, 1929.

Patented Feb. 51, 1929.

' llhllTED' STATES FATENTOFHCE) (El-ROVER C. FRANTZ, OF HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORTO MODERN UTILITIES COMPANY, OF HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

ADJUSTABLE GRADING ATTACHMENT.

My invention relates to grade indicating devices and more particularly to an attachment adapted to be secured to the end of: an ordinary mechanics level whereby it adapts the level to be used as a grade indicator.

ll am, aware that a number of grade indicat ing devices and. attachments have been produced but the devices are usually cumbersome or expensive and the attachments so is r produced are lacking in strength and in eliiciency.

The principal object ofiny invention is to provide an attachment which may be secured to the end of an ordinary mechanic s level so that it will not detract from its ability to function in its ordinary capacity and. which may be extended to measure the grade oi any sloping surface.

A further object of my invention is to pro-' vide a device of this character which may be quickly and easily set in selected positions and which will be rigid and serviceable under all conditions.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a device of this character which may be cheaply manufactured and which may be readily attached by any workman.

These objects, and other advantageous ends which will be described hereinafter, I attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is an elevation of a preferredembodiment of my invention, showing the device in closed position,

Figure 2 a view similar to Figure l but showing the device in extended position Figure 3 a view of the base plate forrnii'ig a part of the device shown in, ll igurefl,

Figure 4 a cross sectional view taken on line 4 4: on Figure 1, drawn to an enlarged scale, and

Figure 5 a. view showing the device at tached to an ordinary mechanics level and illustrating how the device may be used.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, the device consists primarily in base plate 6, a slide 7, a stud 8, and thumb nut 9. The base plate is provided each corner with, a countersunk hole 10, through which screws may be inserted for securing the device to the. end of a level 11, as shown in Figure Near the lower end of base plate i. a re duced part 12 on stud 8 is inserted through a suitable countersunk hole and riveted flush with the-rear side of base plate 6, as plainly shown in Figure 4. The outer end of stud 8 thumb nut-being counterbored to clear is threaded leaving a short plain portion 18, the shoulders of which abut the lace of: the base plate 6 and hold the stud firmly in an upposil'ion and. the ides of plain poii n in are aoaj ii eu to or igc the edgesof a slot ,ifornied vertically in slide? lfhunib nut 5) is i] v dll and aihuitcd li-obear against thevouter ilfacefo'l slide 7 and hold same firmly in any desired position; the the plain portion 13 olthe stud.

The sides o1 base plate 6 are straight and parallel and are verla i ped by a pair o'l flanges 15 formed on either sideoi slide 7. it is evident that stud 8 and thumb nut S) will hold slide 7 against vertical movement and that flanges 15. by engaging the cd oi base plate 6. will hold the slide againsd; any lateral n'ioven'ient. 1 A scale 16 is provided along one edge base plate 6 and a second scale 1? along its other edge; both scales being placed at abredetermined distance from the bottom of the base plate.

lVhile any system of measurement mav be used I prefer to provide scales which 'ihdicate the fall in inches per one foot run and the fall 1n inches per 10 icet run as these are the dimensions to which mechanics are usually required to work.

in applying the device, the worlnnan l'llOlQlyPlZLCQS the bottom of base plate 6 flush with the bottom oi? his level and drills. holes therein to coincide with holes 10. l le then i ar-zloi'is the base plate to the end oi the level by means of lllHGliIlllfI coui'ii'crsunk head screws lhrough holes ll) and into the holes drilled in the end otlhc level, "ill-en places slide '4" in position and screws thumb nut 9 to its seat.

Assuming that he wished to install a run of pipe. such as illustrated by the numeral 18 in Figure- 5, to a tall oljone inchper loot he would loosen. not 9, move slide i dmvnwardly until the top of the slide come in alignment with the proper graduation on scale 16 and tigl'iten the thumb out. He would then raise or lower one end of pipe 18 until the spirit level 19 indicated that the top of the level was in a horizontal plane. H the slope given the mechanic was in inches per 10 f .et; he would merely use scale 1'2.

It understood that attachments having differently graduated. scales are. required for levels 01 dilierent lengths. Slide Tneed not necessarily be attached to a level whose thickness is equal to the width of the slide or whose height is equal to the length of the base plate. It may be attached to a level of any thickness or height; so long as the bottom of slide 7, in normal position, is flush with the underside of the level, as in Figure 1, when the attachment is not in use, to enable the level to be used in its ordinary manner.

lVhile I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be readily understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the precise construction set forth but consider that I am atliberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly come within the scope oi: the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is A grading attachment for amechanics level comprising a flat rectangular base plate adapted to be secured to the end of the level with its bottom edge flush with the bottom of the level, a slide abutting the base plate and having an elongated slot, a stud having a reduced part extending through the base plate and secured therein by having its end riveted over flush with the rear face of the base plate, a plain part on the stud slidably engaging the sides of the slot, a counterbored thumb nut threaded upon the stud and abutting the slide for holding same in selected positions, flanges formed on the side edges of the slide parallel to and slidably engaging the sides of the base plate but not extending beyond its rear face, and a plurality of scales formed on the front face of the base plate and adapted to coact with the top edge of the slide for indicating various grades.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

GROVER C. FRANTZ. 

